Tanco Expands Liquid Barge Terminal At Jeffersonville Port

Tanco Terminals will be expanding its liquid barge facility at Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville to meet rising demand for blended fertilizers in southern Indiana and northern Kentucky. The $750,000 expansion at the site on the Ohio River includes the construction of two 45,000-gallon tanks designed to support Premier Ag, a Seymour, Ind.-based regional cooperative and new customer of Tanco Terminals.

Tanco Terminals, which first started operations in Jeffersonville in 2000, provides marine, rail and truck access for liquid asphalt and fertilizer products. The company’s latest investment reflects its commitment to serving the growing agricultural sector.

“This expansion is about more than just infrastructure,” said Kip Middendorf, vice president and managing director of Tanco Terminals. “It’s about aligning with the needs of our customers and the market. Premier Ag’s commitment to the Jeffersonville facility was a major driver in our investments, which not only meet today’s needs but also anticipate future growth.”

The new tanks allow Premier Ag to blend fertilizer additives for farmers on an order-by-order basis, tailoring blends to local soil conditions. That capability is expected to significantly increase throughput at the terminal and provide farmers with enhanced fertilizer options. Currently, Premier Ag stores liquid nitrogen (UAN) at Tanco Terminals, which allows it to offer 32 percent and 28 percent nitrogen that can now be blended with ammonium thiosulfate.

“Our expansion at Tanco Terminals is a key link in providing better service to our farmer customers,” said Jeff Jarrett, vice president of new business ventures and fertilizer for Premier Ag. “Tanco Terminals and the Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville are key players in our strategic vision and ongoing investments.”

Tanco’s port facility receives liquid shipments via barge, rail and truck, allowing Premier Ag to purchase products from multiple markets throughout the world and store them locally so products can be blended on an as-needed basis.

Future expansion phases are planned, with the project’s footprint designed to accommodate up to four additional tanks. Tanco Terminals is also developing facilities that will allow Premier Ag to operate around the clock, allowing trucks to load product at all hours during peak agricultural seasons.

“As someone who lives in a farming community, I can speak from experience when I say that farmers operate around the clock, and Tanco Terminals and Premier Ag have positioned this operation to be an important hub for northern Kentucky and southern Indiana farmers,” said George Ott, port director of the Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville. “This partnership ensures that fertilizer is available when and where it’s needed most.”

Tanco Terminals has been part of the Ports of Indiana ecosystem since 1977 when it established a liquid-bulk terminal at Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan.

“Tanco Terminals plays an extremely important role in the industrial supply chain for farmers, construction, manufacturing and transportation interests at both ends of Indiana and for the surrounding states,” said Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock. “We’re extremely proud of our almost 50-year partnership and the continued expansion of this Indiana-grown family business.”

Tanco Terminals is also pursuing opportunities in new markets, which could lead to continued growth and diversification at the Jeffersonville site.

“Our decision to build this facility at the port 25 years ago was driven by the state’s business-friendly environment and our strong relationship with Ports of Indiana,” Middendorf said. “Today, that decision continues to pay dividends as we expand and attract new business.”

Less than a year ago, Tanco Terminals launched an $8.2 million expansion of its liquid tank farm at Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor. That expansion included the addition of a sixth rail loading track, a new truck scale, three new storage tanks—two with a capacity of 36,000 barrel and one capable of holding 42,000 barrels—and equipment for handling cargos between multiple modes of transportation.

Tanco Terminals stores and performs value-added services for liquid cargoes, including petroleum and petroleum-based products, fertilizers and food-grade oils. Premier Ag, based in Seymour, Ind., is an agricultural cooperative offering energy products and crop management services. Its divisions and business units include Agronomy, TRAX & SwineLink and Premier Energy, which provides propane, diesel and gasoline in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.

The Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority that operates three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan.